Divisions of Bangladesh: population and official figures
Bangladesh is divided into 8 divisions. The largest by population is Dhaka Division with 45,644,586 people (26.9% of the total); the smallest is Barishal Division with 9,325,820. Population figures are from the Population and Housing Census 2022 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, adjusted for people missed by the count. Mymensingh division was split from Dhaka division after the 2011 census, so it has a new page and the Dhaka page covers the smaller division. Each division page adds income, poverty, food insecurity and schooling (Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022), jobs (Labour Force Survey 2024), births and deaths (Sample Vital Statistics 2023), census figures on housing, internet and literacy, and child nutrition and health from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022 (NIPORT). Divisions have no budgets of their own.
Who governs Bangladesh's divisions?
Divisions (8): Divisional commissioner, a civil servant appointed by the national government. Coordinates districts; no elected body.
How local power works in Bangladesh · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 8 divisions, largest first
| # | Division | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhaka Division | 45,644,586 | 2022 | +1.7% |
| 2 | Chattogram Division | 34,178,612 | 2022 | +1.4% |
| 3 | Rajshahi Division | 20,794,019 | 2022 | +0.9% |
| 4 | Rangpur Division | 18,020,071 | 2022 | +1.0% |
| 5 | Khulna Division | 17,813,218 | 2022 | +0.9% |
| 6 | Mymensingh Division | 12,637,472 | 2022 | +0.9% |
| 7 | Sylhet Division | 11,415,113 | 2022 | +1.0% |
| 8 | Barishal Division | 9,325,820 | 2022 | +0.8% |
Cities: the largest cities of Bangladesh.
More on Bangladesh: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Population and Housing Census 2022, National Report (Volume I), Table 3.1.4: enumerated and adjusted population by division; Tables 3.2.5, 3.2.9, 3.3.16 (growth, sex ratio, households), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1c315d497629…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022, Final Report: Tables 4.5 (income and consumption), 6.4 (poverty), 7.6 (school enrolment), 13.2-13.3 (food insecurity) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4df200a6bfb1…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force Survey 2024, final report tables: Tables 6.8.1 (employed), 7.3.2 (informal employment) and 8.7.1 (unemployed) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 072c18ebf9f3…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023: Tables 3.4 (fertility), 3.14 (birth registration), 4.1 (death rate), 4.5 (infant mortality), 4.9 (under-5 mortality) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a315f77d448…)
- National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (with ICF): Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022, Final Report: Tables 2.4, 3.2, 9.1, 9.7, 9.8, 11.1, 14.3 and 14.6 by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fcb1b5f6f950…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.